They’re only words, only words on a page.
My brothers open up champagne and pour it into flutes, but I’m so tired, so weary, I barely taste it. Elise sits beside me while Romeo hands out cigars, and waitstaff bring out elegant food on platters. But it isn’t my mother’s food, I’m not at home, and I don’t want to eat anything.
I stand before we’ve even touched the cake from Tavi’s bakery in the North End. “I’m taking my bride upstairs,” I say.
“Dude. It’s that cream cake you like.” I nearly groan. Tavi’s bakery makes an Italian cream cake with vanilla, coconut, and pecans, laced with a whipped cream frosting, that melts in your mouth. People all over the country order it for their weddings. He knows how much I love his damn pastries.
“Alright. Cake only.”
Elise looks stunned, and I wonder for a minute if it has something to do with her crash earlier. Maybe she didn’t expect this so soon, or maybe she was hoping to get away. And now, here she’s wed to a made man. I don’t know why she looks so afraid or surprised, though. As a woman of the mob, she knew this was her lot in life since she was a little girl like my sisters, dressing up their Barbies in white wedding gowns.
I know what the rules are. I know that we’re required to consummate this marriage immediately, within twenty-four hours. We’ve gone through the formalities. Now it’s time to make this work.
“Everyone out,” I announce when the last crumb of cake’s been eaten. No one questions me. Even Romeo stands and nods. “See you tomorrow, Orlando?”
He knows after I’ve consummated the marriage, I’ll need to bring her to The Castle where she’ll meet the rest of my family.
Mario gives me a shit-eating grin and a wink, fist bumps me, and almost checks my bride out before I shove him out the door. “See you tomorrow.”
Santo leaves without a word, and Tavi gives me a hard brotherly hug, complete with a stinging backslap. “I’ll bring more food tomorrow. I’m ready to arm wrestle you over the last damn lobster claw.” Elise looks at me in surprise. She’ll see what he means soon enough.
I kick everyone out of the house and promise Romeo I’ll update him as soon as I have anything to share. He nods with a mischievous glint in his eyes. I make fluttering finger motions toward the door as if to sweep them all out. Romeo chuckles, but everyone follows his lead and exits, with lots of “we’re so glad to have you home” and “we’ll catch up soon.”
I need to find out what makes her tick. I need to find out if she tried to escape and if so, why.
I try to bridge the silence between us.
“I hope you like it here.”
She still doesn’t respond, just walks beside me as if I’m leading her to prison. Does she really feel that way?
I should feel something being married now. It’s the new stage of family life, the next step to being a made man, and I’ve just ascended into rank above Tavi. It doesn’t matter. Tavi will be married soon, and he and I will join the ranks with Romeo as officiating members of our family.
But tonight, I’m a high-ranking official. And after I have my first baby, our family will be even stronger.
Again, I think to myself that I should feel something, anything, but I don’t. All I feel is a dull ache in my chest. I figure I’m tired.
I wish my whole family was here. My mother, my Nana, Rosa, even my fucking father.
No, not my father. He hated me. But a part of me wonders, would he approve of me now?
This is our first night together. It should be special. My mind is reeling, and I’m exhausted.
I know I have a choice ahead of me. I could boss her around, tell her what to do. I could make her obey me and follow my rules. She could be the mafia wife that I need. She could learn her place by my side.
Or…maybe we could have something more. Just like Romeo. He told me that he decided long ago that when he married his wife, he was going to make something better than what he’d seen. And I know that I want that, too. Who wouldn’t?
“Is this your primary residence?” she asks while she runs her fingers along the banister.
Something odd about this one.
“One of them. I also own property in Tuscany, and I spend a lot of time in my family’s home, The Castle.”
She looks at me and tips her head to the side. “The Castle?”
I nod. “I’ll take you there tomorrow. I’m surprised that as a Regazza you haven’t heard of The Castle. Former Regazza.”
No emotional response. She only frowns and looks around as if trying to find an exit.